47/5. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3037 — Forgiveness and Shirk
Regarding Surat An-Nisa
Forgiveness and Shirk: A Beloved Verse to Ali
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3037
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3037
حَدَّثَنَا خَلاَّدُ بْنُ أَسْلَمَ الْبَغْدَادِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ شُمَيْلٍ، عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ، عَنْ ثُوَيْرِ بْنِ أَبِي فَاخِتَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، قَالَ مَا فِي الْقُرْآنِ آيَةٌ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ : ( إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ ) قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَأَبُو فَاخِتَةَ اسْمُهُ سَعِيدُ بْنُ عِلاَقَةَ وَثُوَيْرٌ يُكْنَى أَبَا جَهْمٍ وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ كُوفِيٌّ مِنَ التَّابِعِينَ وَقَدْ سَمِعَ مِنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ وَابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ . وَابْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ كَانَ يَغْمِزُهُ قَلِيلاً .
Thuwair - Ibn Abi Fakhitah Narrated from:
Narrated Thuwair - Ibn Abi Fakhitah: From His Father That 'Ali Bin Abi Talib Said: "There Is No Ayah In The Qur'An More Beloved To Me Than This Ayah:Verily Allah Forgives Not Associating Others With Him, But He Forgives What Is Less Than That For Whomever He Wills (4:116)."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3037In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 89English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3037
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3037
This hadith focuses on forgiveness and shirk. Ali bin Abi Talib said there was no verse in the Quran more beloved to him than the verse: Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whomever He wills. The narration is short, but its meaning is weighty. It shows both warning and hope. Shirk is singled out as the sin Allah does not forgive if a person meets Him upon it, while other sins are under Allah’s will. The text does not give a license to sin. It gives a believer reason to fear shirk and hope in Allah’s mercy.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ali loved the verse about Allah’s forgiveness and the danger of shirk.
- Shirk is singled out as a sin not forgiven when one remains upon it.
- Sins less than shirk are under Allah’s will.
- A believer should combine fear of shirk with hope in Allah’s mercy.
